Veterans Benefits

This January I am grateful for many things, including my healthy and happy family, my fulfilling law practice, and my own health and well being. I am also profoundly thankful to our servicemen and servicewomen now overseas and to our veterans here at home.

In May of 2009 I became accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs to prepare and present claims for veterans benefits. Since becoming accredited, I have continued learning about veterans benefits and how such benefits could help my clients. Veterans do not need the advice of an attorney to obtain veterans benefits, and more often than not it is best to seek the advice of the local Veterans Service Officer (VSO). Your local VSO is trained and knowledgeable, submits benefits claims every day, and is available to help you apply for benefits at no cost.

Long-Term Care Planning:

It is essential to look at possible veterans benefits when putting together a long-term care plan or when facing an emergency care situation. Aid and Attendance benefits, for example, are often available to help defray the cost of assisted living expenses. If you are retiring or are post-retirement, check with your local VSO to see what benefits you might be entitled to.

Veterans Service Officers:

If you live in Waltham, Walter Hoyt is the VSO and he can be reached at 781-314-3415, http://is.gd/54Gud. If you live in Watertown, call Robert Erickson at 617-972-6416, http://is.gd/54GzX. Follow this link to find Massachusetts Veterans Service Officers by town: http://is.gd/54Gn5.

Veterans Benefits Tips:

• While Attorneys and other providers can charge for counseling you about the planning implications of receiving VA benefits, it is illegal to charge a fee for helping you prepare and submit a VA benefit application.

• Veterans benefits include compensation benefits for chronic conditions incurred, caused, or aggravated by service and pension benefits for indigent veterans or surviving spouses. For the purposes of receiving pension benefits, your medical expenses will be deducted from your income when determining eligibility.

• If you are a veteran who served in Vietnam, consider compensation benefits – many conditions are presumptively service connected for Vietnam veterans.

For more information about veterans benefits, call your local VSO or check out these links:

Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services: http://is.gd/54U7D

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: http://www.va.gov/

Compensation & Pension Service: http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/


Happy Friday Everyone!



-Audrey